Posted: Mon, 30 May 2016 08:55 PM - 13,496 Readers

By: Rachel Rice

Update 4:09 p.m.: Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam are closed effective immediately, according to the Austin Fire Department twitter account.

The closure will remain in place until Wednesday at noon. The closure is in response to the opening of the floodgates at Mansfield Dam, Austin Fire Department Division Chief Palmer Buck said. The Lower Colorado River Authority will open floodgates on Mansfield Dam at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. today.

“The flooding at that amount of water is not conducive to happy paddlers,” Buck said. “On Lake Austin that level of water causes damage to docks and property. The LCRA hasn’t seen this level of operations in a long, long time … the police department and the fire department are working to get people off the water before the floodgates commence operation.”


Update 3:05 p.m.: The Lower Colorado River Authority will open floodgates on Mansfield Dam at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. today, the LCRA announced on Twitter and their website.

“Floodgate operations along the Highland Lakes are increasing in response to rain that fell in the upper basin over the last 48 hours,” the website announcement states. “The Highland Lakes are full and passing excess inflows at all dams. Soils are saturated from widespread rains of about 1 to 2 inches over the Highland Lake watershed the night of May 29-30. Creeks and rivers flowing into the Highland Lakes are expected to rise significantly today and over the next several days.”

Rain over the Memorial Day weekend contributed to Lake Travis rising nearly two feet since Friday morning, according to LCRA lake level data.



“We’re several feet up in the flood pool in Lake Travis,” LCRA Executive Vice President of Water John Hofmann said. “The flood pool begins elevation at 681 feet, and we’re 3.5 feet into that and gaining … that’s our flood protection for Central Texas and downstream. It’s designed to hold flood waters until they can be safely passed down without flooding the Colorado River. It’s designed to be their for the next major flood event.”

Hofmann said with the soil already saturated around the lakes and more rain expected later in the week, the LCRA wants to keep as much of the flood capacity on Lake Travis available as possible.

“Flows in the Highland Lakes and lower Colorado River will be strong and swift, and anyone on or near the water should exercise extreme caution and should take precautions to protect people and property,” LCRA spokeswoman Clara Tuma said in an email. “Conditions could change quickly with additional rainfal. LCRA is closely monitoring conditions on the Highland Lakes and lower Colorado River, and is prepared to begin additional floodgate operations if conditions warrant.”



Conditions in Travis County are cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.

Update 12:20 p.m.: There is marginal risk for severe thunderstorms across the Hill Country this afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. Scattered thunderstorms may be capable of quarter-sized hail, lightning and gusty winds.

Barton Creek at Texas 71 near Oak Hill has seen less than an inch of rain within the last 12 hours, according to rain gauges monitored by the Lower Colorado River Authority.

8:40 a.m.: Thunderstorms will push across south Central Texas through midday Monday, the National Weather Service said. Moderate rain is expected to persist until 10 a.m. with additional rains of less than 2 inches possible, according to the weather service.

Due to ground saturation, heavy downpours may result in flash flooding and high water on creeks and low water crossings, the weather service said. The Hill Country remains under a flash flood watch through 1 p.m. Storms may be bolstered with winds of 40 mph, the weather service said.

*  Story Contributed by: Rachel Rice